The final chapter of “Linsanity” is officially over.
Former Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin announced his retirement from basketball through an Instagram post Saturday night.
“As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away,” Lin said in his post. “I’ve spent my 15 year career knowing that one day I would have to walk away, and yet actually saying goodbye to basketball today has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”
Lin, 37, spent nine seasons in the NBA, averaging 11.6 points, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals across 480 games.
“So many people have sacrificed and poured into my journey, more than I could ever repay,” Lin added, writing his caption in both English and Chinese. “Thank you all for believing in me, for walking with me, for celebrating my highs and picking me up in my lows. This is a ride I never wanted to end but I know it’s time.
“I will forever miss playing basketball in front of you all but our time will go beyond just playing. Here’s to what’s ahead.”
After going undrafted in 2010, Lin signed with the Warriors, where he played in 29 games before the team waived him midway through the 2010-11 NBA season.
Lin is perhaps most known for his breakout season with the Knicks in 2011-12, where the guard averaged a career-high 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals through 35 games.
During his iconic “Linsanity” run that season, Lin averaged 25 points and 9.2 assists, while shooting over 50 percent from the field and leading the Knicks to a seven-game winning streak during the stretch that lasted nearly the entire month of February.
Following his time with the Knicks, Lin spent time with five other NBA teams — including a brief stop with the crosstown Nets — and finished his NBA career with the Raptors in 2019, winning his first and only NBA championship.
After the NBA, Lin played in the Chinese Basketball Association from 2019-20 through 2022-23.
